If you have a self-build computer project, or you are planning on a computer upgrade, chances are that you are looking at which ram is better between Corsair and G Skill.
This article is going to give you a good comparison and provide insight in what differentiates these two brands.
In general, Corsair ram outperforms G Skill ram. While both companies produce high-quality memory, Corsair RAM is a better choice for most custom computer builds. The most important thing to consider when shopping for the best ram is figuring out features does each ram offer and which computer ram brand is best suited to your needs!
Corsair Versus G Skill: A Detailed Look
While both Corsair and G Skill are well-known computer memory producers, they offer very different products.
Corsair is well known for its Vengeance series of ram sticks, which are designed to provide the best performance possible through overclocking; however; this means that these won’t be suitable for everyone.
G Skill, on the other hand, is known for its Ripjaws series; with these modules, you won’t need to overclock them in order to get better performance.
These ram sticks come at a lower price and are therefore more affordable than Corsair Vengeance. When it comes to Ram, Ram speed is important but the amount of available Ram is more important.
RAM often comes in densities varying from 4GB to 32 GB per stick. The higher the number of GB, the higher the price will be per DIMM.
However, before we get into the nitty-gritty of ram specifications and features, we need to understand exactly what ram is and how it works so we can see how they both differ.
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What is RAM?
“Random Access Memory, or simply RAM, refers to the high-speed data storage memory used by the computer for executing programs.”
The contents of memory are erased when you shut down your computer. If your power goes out and comes back on again, anything in memory will be lost unless it has been saved to your hard drive.
The contents of memory are stored on chips inside your computer’s motherboard and these chips are called RAM modules.
If you have a Windows operating system, or any other windows based software then you’ll find that you need a minimum amount of ram to operate the software successfully.
How Does Memory Work?
“The DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) chip was the first type of RAM that uses DDR technology.
Simply put, DDR-SDRAM takes advantage of its memory bus’ capability to perform two data transfers per cycle by reading and writing on both the rising and falling edges.”
When you start your computer there is a small program called the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) which is used to start your computer and check that all your hardware components are present.
Once it has completed this task, it passes control over to the operating system such as Windows XP, Vista or Seven. Your Operating system needs RAM in order to function and once the operating system is loaded into the RAM, this is where it stays until you shut down your computer.
RAM SHARES YOUR HARD DRIVE’S LIMITATIONS
The moment that you hear the word “performance” as it applies to a computer, the first things that may spring to mind are either the CPU or video card. However, those two components work closely with your RAM in order to get that performance.
RAM Limitations:
- 1GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
- 4GB = 4,294,967,296 bytes
- 16GB = 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 bytes
A 4GB RAM module will have to split its memory into two chunks in order to accommodate the limitations of most operating systems. This is why you have 2X 2GB RAM modules for this reason.
On the other hand, if you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, then your Operating System would only be able to access 4GB of RAM at a time (with some exceptions for certain applications and games).
On the other hand, if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, your Operating System would be able to access much more than 4GB’s worth of memory.
RAM POWER CONSUMPTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF POWER SUPPLIES
“Power consumption is the amount of energy your computer’s parts require to complete a task.”
Since your RAM requires power in order to function, it is important that if you are attempting to build a low-energy consuming machine then you need to be sure that your motherboard can support the type of ram that you are looking at.
If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, your Operating System would only be able to access 4GB’s worth of RAM at a time. If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows however, it can access much more than 4GB’s worth of memory.
RAM SPECIFICATIONS: UNDERSTANDING THE CONFUSION
You will find that there are RAM modules with many different speeds and latencies. Even if you do not understand what this means, it is important to know that a higher speed and lower latency will be better for your computer.
The real-world bottom line is:
Higher memory speeds allow for shorter loading time of programs and games.
Lower latencies allow for less time to pass before a task is completed.
These specifications can be very confusing and may cause you to purchase the wrong kind of RAM.
G-SKILL OR CORSAIR: WHICH IS BETTER?
Not all RAM modules are created equal and just because it says “PC3 12800” on the label, it may not necessarily mean that it is faster or better than another RAM. So how can you tell which ram is better?
It would be great if every company made their own RAM but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. The most popular companies are Corsair and G-Skill.
Even though both produce high quality memory modules, they focus on very different aspects of the computer memory market.
Corsair focuses more on higher speeds and Latency whereas G-Skill has focused on high capacity modules for higher bandwidth throughputs.
Speed: G-Skills Sniper X series RAM modules allow for speeds up to 2800MHz or PC3 224000 while Corsair provides much lower speed options ranging from PC3 800 to PC3 1866.
Latency: Corsair Vengeance RAM modules allow for higher latencies of 10 and 12 while G-Skill has lower latency options with their Sniper X series starting from 9.
Capacity: Corsair’s Dominators allow for more than 16GB’s of capacity whereas the G-Skill Sniper allows for 8GB modules.
Brand: Both Corsair and G-Skill provide a lifetime warranty with their RAM products.
In general, Corsair ram is better than G Skill ram. While both companies produce high-quality memory products, Corsair rams are generally a good choice for most custom computer builds.
While shopping for your best ram choice, the most important thing is to choose which computer ram brand is suited for your needs!
